Terri Rote, of Des Moines, has a preliminary hearing is set for November 7.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 6:18 PM CDT Oct 28, 2016

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT
SERIOUS ELECTION MISCONDUC
55-YEAR-OLD TERRI ROTE IS
CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE
ELECTION MISCONDU
AUTHORITIES SAYE DES MOINES
WOMAN TURNED IN TWO SENTEE
BALLOTS AT A POLK COUNTY
ELECTION SATELLITE OFFICE.
>> IT WAS PICKED UP PRETTY
QUICK.
THESE THINGS AREN'T GOITO
SLIP BY THE ELECTION OFCE AND
THEY BROUGHT IT TO OUR
ATTENTION.
THE ELEMENTS OHE CRIME WERE
THERE, SO SHE WAS CHARGED.
TOMMIE: HOW WAS SHE CAUGHT?
SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE UGHT
ROTE'S SECOND BALLOT SIGNARE.
LATER, AN ARREST WARRANT WAS
ISSUED AND SHE WAS BOOKED ON A
$5,000 BOND AT THE POLK COUNTY
JAIL.
SHE BONDED OUT -- WE KNOCKED ON
HER FRONT DOOR, BUT NOE
ANSWERED.
>> WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAIN THE
25 PLUS YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN
DOING THIS JOB, WE'VE HAD VERY
FEW CASES WHERE THERE'S BEEN
VOTER FRAUD ALLEGATIONS MADE.
TOMMIE: ALTHOUGH OT CASES
HAVE COME UP IN IOWA THIS
ELECTION SEASON, ROTE IS THE
ONLY ONE WHO HAS BEECHARGED.
THE OTHER TWO CASES INVOLVED
CONFUSION OVER BALLOTS, WHICH
ISN'T AS RARE AS YOU MAY THINK.
>> THERE'S BEEN SOME CONFUSION
REGARDING WHAT ABSENTEE BALLOT
REQUESTS ARE AND ACTUAL ABSENTEE
BALLOTS, BUT IN TERMS
ACTUALLY THERE BEING CES WHERE
PEOPLE HAVE VOTED TWICE, THAT
REALLYASN'T HAPPENED MUCH.
MARK: TOMMIE: --

Iowa woman faces criminal charges in voter fraud case

Terri Rote, of Des Moines, has a preliminary hearing is set for November 7.

Related Content

Authorities said Rote turned in two absentee ballots at a Polk County election satellite office.

"She tried to vote twice. That’s a class D felony by Iowa law,” Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek said. “It was picked up pretty quick. These things aren’t going to slip by the election office and they brought it to our attention. The elements of the crime were there so she was charged."

Authorities said they were able to catch Rote because of the signature at the bottom of the election ballot.

Rote later admitted to the criminal act and was booked on a $5,000 bond at Polk County Jail, authorities said.

"What I can say is that in the 25-plus years that I’ve been doing this job we’ve had very few cases where there’s been voter fraud allegations made," Polk County Attorney John Sarcone said.

Although other cases have come up in Iowa this election season, Rote is the only one who has been charged with election misconduct.

The other two cases involved confusion over ballots and ballot requests, which experts say is not a rare occurrence.

"There’s been some confusion regarding what absentee ballot requests are and actual absentee ballots, but in terms of actually there being cases where people have voted twice that really hasn’t happened much,” Sarcone said.

Rote’s first ballot counts, but her second vote has gotten her a court date. Election officials said Iowans should know that only one vote per person is allowed.

"We encourage everyone to get out and vote and exercise that right, and those who would attempt to violate the law …you’re going to get caught," Sarcone said.

Sarcone said officials across the state have been working hard to protect the integrity of the election process against fraud.

Rote has bonded out of jail. A preliminary hearing for Rote is set for Nov. 7.Rote is registered as a Republican.